How to Choose the Right Small Business Accounting Software?

Kutubkhan Bohari | November 25, 2022 | 539 views | Read Time : 02:40 min

How to Choose the Right Small Business Accounting Software?

Introduction

With increasing complexities in financial management and migration towards digital technologies for accounting operations, advanced accounting solutions are gaining massive traction across the small business sector.

Accounting software assists small businesses in enhancing their financial performance by providing higher accuracy, optimized payroll, automated transaction tracking, centralizing financial records, and others. However, it is crucial for small businesses to integrate the right accounting software as per their requirements to get the most out of the solutions.

Since the market is full of numerous accounting solutions with different capabilities, selecting the one that is most suitable for your business can be overwhelming. So what are the factors that a small business owner should consider before looking for an accounting solution? Let’s see below.


Select the Right Accounting Software: The Top 5 Primary Factors to Consider for Small Businesses


Types of Software

With multiple types of accounting software available, such as system software, application software, cloud-based software, and others, small business owners can opt for solutions that suit their operations and working style.

If the owners operate in an on-the-go style, cloud-based software is best for them. But if the owners prefer to work from a single location, then the system software is appropriate for them.

Learning Curve

Until and unless small business owners are aware of the ins and outs of accounting software, using the software may seem complicated. As the high complexity of the solutions can result in costly errors, these owners should make sure that the learning curve for operating the software is not too steep.


Features List

Before small business owners start reviewing various types of accounting software platforms, they should take the time to brush up on the basics. It is crucial for the owners to make sure that the accounting solution has all the functionalities and features they need, such as inventory management, multi-currency support, payment processing, expense tracking, and others. They should also consider the add-on features that the solution provider can offer.


Software Cost

Accounting software varies in cost, depending on the number of users it supports, its tools and features, and other factors. The more specialized the software is, the more expensive it gets.

Small business owners should compare prices between various accounting software providers and understand the exact amount and the process by which they will be charged. For instance, some of the companies charge standard monthly fees, while others have a single upfront cost with additional charges for add-on services. They should also find out if there are any hidden charges associated with the setup, customer support, and cloud storage.


Customer Support

A huge part of a reliable accounting solution is customer service. This is because small business owners need quick solutions and answers if they get stuck or have any questions related to the software. They do not want to be bounced around from representative to representative when reaching out for support.

Thus, the owners should look for accounting software that offers excellent customer support and service. While selecting the solution, they should research and read customer testimonials about the software’s customer support.

Begin Your Accounting the Right Way

Efficient accounting is a crucial part of financial management, which involves tracking critical business activities such as accounts receivable and payable, invoicing and billing, bank reconciliation, reporting, and tax compliance, among others. It can be difficult for small businesses to get everything right, yet good accounting is fundamental for the company's growth and success.

Choosing the correct accounting software is a crucial first step when getting started with the discipline. To get the most out of your accounting software, it is essential for small businesses to carefully consider their requirements, check the availability of features as per the requirements, and then select the accounting software that provides the capabilities they require for the greatest accounting experience.

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Retail Direct specialises in the resell and promotion of products from some of the biggest brand names across Europe. Covering multiple verticals, including technology, fashion, sport, home & garden, and health & beauty, the company is passionate about bringing the latest products to consumers at affordable prices.

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Sustainable E-commerce for SMBs: Events to Attend in 2023

Article | June 7, 2022

Discover the must-attend events for SMBs in 2023 and gain valuable insights, strategies, and networking opportunities to propel your business forward. Stay updated with the latest trends in the e-commerce industry. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Top events e-commerce SMBs must attend in 2023 2.1 Ecom Sweety 2.2 Retail Innovation Conference & Expo 2.3 Grow NYC Summer 2.4 Online Retailer Conference & Expo 2023 2.5 The eCommerce & Omnichannel Conference 2.6 White Label World Expo 2.7 Paris Retail Week 2.8 Ecommerce Expo 2.9 E-commerce Expo Asia 2.10 White Label World Expo Europe 3. Key Takeaways 1. Introduction In the ever-evolving realm of e-commerce, sustainability has emerged as an indispensable concern for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs) spanning diverse industries. Moreover, SMBs increasingly recognize the importance of integrating contemporary practices into their online operations. Thus to stay informed and inspired, attending industry events is critical. This article will explore a meticulously curated list of top e-commerce conferences and events in 2023. These exceptional gatherings proffer invaluable insights, unparalleled networking prospects, and pragmatic strategies enabling SMBs to flourish while keeping them updated on the digital marketplace. 2. Top events e-commerce SMBs must attend in 2023 2.1 Ecom Sweety June 01-03, 2023 | Miami The Ecom Sweety event offers valuable growth strategies, networking opportunities, memorable experiences, inspiring stories, and impactful insights to fuel your success throughout the year. Attendees will learn to boost conversions for their Shopify stores, harness the potential of long-form video content to drive brand growth, leverage customer reviews for maximum impact, enhance customer retention, and build a strong social presence. This event brings together a community of accomplished women who have mastered the art of e-commerce, providing a unique opportunity to learn from their experiences and expertise. Join this powerful group and gain actionable strategies to propel your e-commerce journey to new heights. 2.2 Retail Innovation Conference & Expo June 13-15, 2023 | McCormick Place, Chicago The Retail Innovation Conference & Expo is a captivating event in the world of retail innovation to discover the brightest minds in the retail industry as they showcase their groundbreaking ideas in action. The event provides valuable insights from emerging brands that have successfully embraced new consumer behaviors and thrived amidst industry disruptions. Expert speakers will share their knowledge about traditional omnichannel brands, thriving marketplaces, trailblazing direct-to-consumer (DTC), and consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands to navigate this new era of connected commerce. This event goes beyond simply hearing about the latest trends and innovations; attendees will have the opportunity to experience them firsthand. 2.3 Grow NYC Summer July 11, 2023 | Center415, NY The Grow NYC event brings together hundreds of direct-to-consumer (DTC) founders and growth marketers to share their experiences and insights. Attendees will have the valuable opportunity to learn from successful growth marketers who will discuss what has been effective in their campaigns, companies, and careers. In addition, the event will cover emerging trends and strategies in the e-commerce industry, providing attendees with valuable knowledge to stay ahead in the ever-evolving digital landscape. In addition to learning from industry experts, Grow NYC offers ample networking opportunities, allowing participants to establish numerous new connections and generate potential business leads. 2.4 Online Retailer Conference & Expo 2023 July 19-20, 2023 | ICC Sydney The Online Retailer Conference & Expo is a premier event in the e-commerce industry, providing valuable strategic insights, solutions, technologies, and connections that drive positive outcomes for businesses at any stage of their online retail journey. With a diverse range of exhibitors, attendees, partners, and industry colleagues, the event offers a dynamic and enriching experience for all participants. Whether knowledge, networking opportunities, or industry expertise, the Online Retailer Conference & Expo is the perfect destination to explore the latest trends and establish meaningful connections in the ever-evolving world of online retail. 2.5 The eCommerce & Omnichannel Conference August 21-24, 2023 | The Sheraton, Boston This four-day event offers participants an opportunity to learn from some of the most successful retailers in America and gain insights into how they have achieved profitability through disruptive strategies and innovative ideas. Attendees can expect a wide range of topics to be covered, including finding the right balance between innovation and commercial success, implementing customer acquisition strategies in the new era of privacy and rising costs, embracing hybrid retail models, and aligning customer experience with the brand promise, among many others. By participating in this event, attendees can gather valuable knowledge, strategic takeaways and foster meaningful connections to fuel their growth and ensure success in their endeavors. 2.6 White Label World Expo August 29-30, 2023 | NY The White Label World is the ultimate gathering for leaders, entrepreneurs, online sellers, retailers, and distributors worldwide. This event brings together business owners, e-commerce professionals, and startup owners in a comprehensive expo. With thousands of online sellers, suppliers, and buyers in attendance, it provides a unique opportunity to connect, interact, and experience a wide range of products firsthand. Attendees can exchange ideas, seek business advice, explore sourcing opportunities, and stay updated on the latest product trends. In addition, the event features insightful discussions on industry trends, strategies for building your brand online, and practical advice for scaling your business. Expert speakers share their knowledge and expertise, providing attendees with valuable insights and resources to succeed in the competitive e-commerce and retail space. 2.7 Paris Retail Week September 19-21, 2023 | Paris, France Paris Retail Week is a leading event in the field of omnichannel commerce, bringing together renowned brands, retailers, and solution providers. It serves as a platform for attendees to discover industry trends, explore innovative practices, and address crucial questions. With insights from both French and international speakers, participants will gain inspiration and practical solutions to enhance their businesses. By understanding emerging trends and exploring sector innovations, companies can elevate their operations and stay ahead of the competition. The event also offers valuable networking opportunities, enabling professionals to connect with peers and engage with the wider retail ecosystem. 2.8 Ecommerce Expo September 27-28, 2023 | London, UK The E-commerce Expo is the largest event in the UK dedicated to retail, e-commerce, and marketing technology. With over 11,000 retailers & brands and 300 leading solution providers in attendance, it is a must-attend event for industry professionals. The expo offers a unique opportunity to hear from renowned retail and brand leaders who provide services and solutions crucial to business strategies and achieving 2023 goals. The event covers a wide range of emerging e-commerce themes and topics, bringing together retailers, brands, agencies, media owners, and technology providers. Over the course of two days, attendees can participate in one-to-one meetings, multi-track conferences, and networking sessions, enabling valuable connections and knowledge sharing. 2.9 E-commerce Expo Asia October 11-12, 2023 | Marina Bay Sands, Singapore The E-commerce Expo Asia is a premier event that brings together thousands of industry-leading providers, influential speakers, and senior decision-makers in a focused setting. It offers a unique platform for networking, attending informative e-commerce conferences, and accessing game-changing solutions to help businesses of all sizes achieve their goals. Attendees have the opportunity to connect with leading technology providers, innovative thinkers, and top marketing professionals to explore emerging trends and address critical issues in e-commerce, retail, and marketing technology. In addition, the expo showcases a wide range of innovative marketing technologies and solutions curated explicitly for marketing practitioners, specialists, and business decision-makers. 2.10 White Label World Expo Europe October 11-12, 2023 | Frankfurt, Germany The White Label World Expo presents an exceptional opportunity to become part of a thriving business community. This event provides networking opportunities with thousands of influential decision-makers and industry leaders. Attendees can gain valuable insights into the hottest products, the latest innovations, and the most effective online selling techniques to drive business growth. In addition, it offers a chance to listen to renowned international experts in e-commerce and retail as they share their secrets to success and fundamental knowledge. Stay up-to-date with the latest news and trends in the e-commerce world to ensure continuous business growth. This event is a must-attend for anyone looking to expand their network, gain valuable knowledge, and stay ahead in the competitive e-commerce landscape. 3. Key Takeaways The e-commerce industry is in a constant state of evolution, and SMBs that can adapt to the latest trends will be well-positioned for success. There are numerous e-commerce events that can help SMBs stay ahead of the curve. These events offer valuable information and resources that can contribute to the success of SMBs in the e-commerce industry. In 2023, there will be a variety of must-attend e-commerce events for SMBs, covering a wide range of topics such as digital marketing strategies, customer experience optimization, emerging technologies, and trends. Attending these events allows SMBs to learn about new marketing strategies, technological solutions, and ways to enhance their customer service. By staying informed about the latest trends and best practices, SMBs can remain competitive and adapt their business strategies accordingly. Networking with other businesses and seeking advice from industry experts can also immensely benefit businesses looking to grow and thrive in the e-commerce space.

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The Future of E-commerce: Trends and Innovations for SMBs

Article | September 17, 2021

Discover how emerging technologies and changing consumer behavior are shaping the e-commerce landscape, and delve into the latest trends to help your SMB thrive in the competitive online marketplace. Contents 1. Examining Current E-commerce Landscape 2. The Future of E-commerce: Opportunities and Challenges for SMBs 3. SMB E-commerce in 2023 and Beyond: Trends and Innovations to Embrace 3.1 Mobile Commerce and Optimization 3.2 Social Commerce and Influencer Marketing 3.3 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 3.4 Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality 3.5 Voice Commerce 4. Final Thoughts 1. Examining Current E-commerce Landscape The e-commerce industry has undergone substantial growth and transformation in recent years, and as a small business owner, it is crucial to acknowledge the rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape. Despite recent economic challenges, global e-commerce trends persist and have the potential to shape the future. Therefore adapting to these changes has become more critical than ever, necessitating proper preparation to tackle challenges and implement suitable strategies to accommodate emerging trends and shifts. As small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) seek avenues for future growth, it becomes evident that staying ahead in digital innovation and emerging trends allows e-commerce businesses to maintain agility and resilience. 2. The Future of E-commerce: Opportunities and Challenges for SMBs E-commerce is widely recognized as the future, a viewpoint shared by industry experts and analysts. The rise of technology and the growing popularity of online shopping have created a multitude of opportunities and challenges for SMBs. However, they also face obstacles, including fierce competition from large corporations and the need to adapt to changing consumer preferences. For instance, e-commerce giants and SMBs will increasingly compete for consumer attention, resulting in higher advertising costs and potentially lower returns on ad spend. To navigate the future of e-commerce successfully, SMBs must understand the current landscape and identify emerging trends. This involves prioritizing convenience for both merchants and shoppers, delivering immersive and engaging shopping experiences, and facilitating seamless interactions across multiple channels in a consistent and user-friendly manner. Despite these challenges, SMBs have numerous opportunities to thrive in the ever-evolving e-commerce landscape. 3. SMB E-commerce in 2023 and Beyond: Trends and Innovations to Embrace Small business owners must prioritize creating engaging and efficient online shopping experiences as consumers increasingly use e-commerce platforms for their shopping needs. To maintain a competitive edge, businesses must be well-prepared and implement strategies that align with emerging trends and changes. Therefore, it is critical to identify which e-commerce advancements will persist and comprehend how digital technology innovations will shape the future of small businesses. By staying informed and adapting accordingly, businesses can flourish in the evolving e-commerce landscape. 3.1 Mobile Commerce and Optimization Given the increasing use of smartphones for online activities, small e-commerce businesses must prioritize mobile-first strategies to cater to the growing mobile traffic. Recent figures revealed by eMarketer Insider Intelligence estimated that mobile commerce sales are projected to exceed $510 billion in 2023 and $710 billion in 2025. Mobile peer-to-peer (P2P) payment systems have enhanced the convenience of conducting business transactions through smartphones, while SMS marketing has simplified customer engagement to drive repeat business. However, mobile users highly value convenience, digital payment capabilities and expect a seamless experience. Therefore, SMBs must optimize their websites and platforms to deliver smooth mobile experiences, which entails implementing responsive web design and incorporating mobile payment options. 3.2 Social Commerce and Influencer Marketing Social media platforms have emerged as influential tools for e-commerce, ranking as the second most popular method for global consumers to search for products to purchase. Establishing a presence on social media has become essential for any business's marketing strategy. Advertising capabilities on major social platforms continue to expand, allowing brands to connect effectively with new customers. SMBs must leverage social commerce by creating compelling content, collaborating with influencers, and utilizing social media platforms to showcase their products and engage with customers. Partnering with influencers boosts sales, while brands can gain followers and expand their reach. Social commerce also enables improved brand-to-consumer communication and enhances customer engagement. 3.3 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies are revolutionizing e-commerce operations. The combination of ML, AI, and big data goes beyond automation, enabling the automatic optimization of processes that require significant time and effort or are otherwise not feasible. One significant area where AI and ML are expected to impact is enhancing e-commerce personalization, delivering customers a superior shopping experience. SMBs can leverage AI-powered chatbots to improve customer support and offer personalized recommendations based on customer behavior. By employing machine learning, SMBs can gather and analyze data to personalize the shopping experience, carry out targeted marketing campaigns, optimize pricing, plan merchandise supply, and gain valuable customer insights. The implementation of AI and ML solutions has the potential to streamline processes and enhance the overall customer experience. 3.4 Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies are revolutionizing the future of e-commerce by offering immersive experiences to customers. SMBs must leverage AR and VR to enable customers to visualize products in real-world settings, engage in virtual try-on experiences for fashion items, or explore physical spaces virtually. These technologies allow customers to interact with products and environments digitally, providing a better understanding and feel for the items without physical interaction. For example, customers can see how a T-shirt would look on them or visualize how a piece of furniture fits in their room before making a purchase. This empowers consumers to make more informed decisions, leading to reduced product returns. By integrating AR and VR into their e-commerce platforms, SMBs can enhance customer engagement, deliver a unique shopping experience, and ultimately drive sales growth. 3.5 Voice Commerce In 2023, a growing number of consumers are becoming increasingly comfortable using voice-assisted technologies for their daily tasks. It is no longer inconceivable to envision customers ordering products and making purchases by simply using their voice and asking for product recommendations instead of manually browsing various product collections and sizes. This trend not only saves time but also enhances the immersive shopping experience. As a result, voice commerce is gaining significant momentum, so small e-commerce businesses must embrace voice search as part of their strategy to enhance the customer experience, boost sales, and gain a competitive edge. In addition, SMBs must optimize their e-commerce platforms for voice search, allowing customers to make purchases effortlessly through voice commands. By incorporating voice technology, businesses can provide a seamless and convenient shopping experience that aligns with evolving consumer preferences. 4. Final Thoughts The future of e-commerce presents numerous opportunities for SMBs. As technology continues to advance and consumer behavior evolves, it is essential for small businesses to adapt and embrace emerging trends and innovations that shape the e-commerce landscape. By staying informed and proactive, SMBs can position themselves for success in the ever-changing digital world. Looking towards 2023 and beyond, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the e-commerce industry must adopt a flexible and innovative mindset to stay ahead of the competition and seize new opportunities. Therefore, it is critical to keep up with the latest industry developments, invest in appropriate technologies, and prioritize customer satisfaction for success in this rapidly-changing environment. By taking these steps, SMBs can establish their foothold in the highly-competitive e-commerce industry and thrive in the digital age.

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Scaling SMBs: Best E-commerce Strategies to Grow Your Online Business

Article | November 15, 2022

Learn how SMB e-commerce can overcome unique challenges when scaling operations effectively. Explore a strategic approach towards sustained growth, profitability, and competitiveness in the long run. Contents 1. Scaling E-Commerce Operations for SMBs: Challenges 2. A Strategic Approach towards E-Commerce Growth Strategies 2.1 Assess Current E-Commerce Strategy 2.2 Expand Product Line 2.3 Optimize Customer Experience 2.4 Leverage Data and Analytics 2.5 Implement Tracking and Automation 2.6 Outsourcing: Delegate to Focus 2.7 Building Trust and Credibility 2.8 Implement Effective E-commerce Marketing Strategies 2.9 Attend Trade Shows and Industry Conferences 3. Takeaway: Strategies for Ecommerce Success 1. Scaling E-Commerce Operations for SMBs: Challenges E-commerce has been growing at an unprecedented rate in recent years, driven by the increasing adoption of online shopping and technological advancements. However, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) face unique challenges when it comes to scaling their e-commerce operations. • Firstly, they often lack the resources of larger businesses, including the capital, technology, and human resources necessary to drive growth. • Secondly, SMBs must compete with larger, more established e-commerce players who have already established a robust online presence and brand reputation. • Finally, they must navigate an increasingly complex e-commerce landscape, with constantly evolving customer expectations, market trends, and technological advancements. Despite these challenges, SMBs have several advantages in the e-commerce space. They are often more nimble and can quickly adapt to changing market conditions than larger businesses. They also have the benefit of providing a more personalized and customized customer experience. However, SMBs must adopt a strategic approach to scaling their e-commerce operations to leverage these advantages fully. 2. A Strategic Approach Towards E-Commerce Growth Strategies To remain competitive in the current landscape, businesses must embrace the dominance of e-commerce and prioritize online sales. In addition, small business owners must understand that scaling their business is a significant undertaking and ask themselves critical questions about their readiness and the best approach. To excel in the world of e-commerce, businesses must take a comprehensive approach that encompasses various critical areas. This approach requires a thorough understanding of e-commerce strategies for growth, allowing enterprises to scale their e-commerce operations efficiently and attain sustainable profitability and long-term success. 2.1 Assess Current E-Commerce Strategy The first step in scaling e-commerce operations is to assess the current e-commerce strategies and set specific scaling goals. Next, SMBs must evaluate their online presence, including their website, social media accounts, and online marketplaces, to identify areas for improvement. This assessment should include evaluating the website's design and functionality, the ease of use for customers, and the checkout process. SMBs should also evaluate their current product offerings, pricing strategy, and target market. This will help them identify areas for improvement and opportunities for growth and determine where to focus their investments to achieve their scaling goals. 2.2 Expand Product Line To achieve scalability, businesses must expand their product offerings by adding new products. This can significantly enhance visibility, attract more customers, and ultimately lead to an increase in sales. First, however, it's crucial to identify which products generate the most profit. Then, businesses can effectively allocate resources and optimize their offerings by thoroughly analyzing each product in the catalog to determine top sellers. Adding complementary products and services to existing offerings is also a good strategy for SMBs. This can attract new customers and increase revenue from existing ones. Moreover, diversifying the product offerings can reduce dependence on a single product or category and mitigate risks associated with fluctuations in demand or supply chain disruptions. 2.3 Optimize Customer Experience SMBs must devote their attention to furnishinga personalized and seamless customer experience. Accomplishing this objective necessitates the provision of intricate product descriptions, high-resolution imagery, and straightforward navigation. In addition, to establish customer loyalty, exceptional customer service must be rendered, such as quick responses and effortless returns. Consumers have many options, so they choose brands that provide exceptional customer experiences. Therefore, SMBs need to prioritize customer satisfaction and make necessary changes to their business model and policies, even with limited resources. Investing in technologies like AI, blockchain, ML, and data analytics can also help enhance the customer experience and drive loyalty, satisfaction, acquisition, and retention. By improving customer service, SMBs can differentiate themselves from competitors and take their business to the next level. 2.4 Leverage Data and Analytics The strategic utilization of data and analytics represents a fundamental component of e-commerce enterprises' expansion plans. SMBs must methodically scrutinize website, sales and customer data to ascertain areas that require enhancement and growth opportunities. Furthermore, the proficient employment of data and analytics facilitates the optimization of pricing, marketing, and product offerings, culminating in augmented revenue, profitability, and decreased risks and expenses. • Use predictive analytics to anticipate customer needs and proactively offer relevant products and services. • Use data to identify high-value customers and target them with personalized offers. • Invest in advanced analytics to gain deeper insights into customer behavior. • Utilize machine learning to personalize customer experiences and increase engagement. 2.5 Implement Tracking and Automation To enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs in e-commerce, SMBs can implement robust tracking and automation mechanisms. These may include automated inventory management to mitigate stockouts and backorders, as well as automated shipping and fulfillment processes to achieve faster delivery times and lower expenses. • Automated services, such as abandoned cart retargeting, drip campaigns, and targeted content promotions based on user interests, can significantly streamline operations. • Chatbots can provide 24/7 customer service support, ensuring uninterrupted customer engagement. Incorporating data tracking is a crucial element in improving online stores and anticipating changes required to support business growth. By leveraging automation to handle repetitive tasks and employing data tracking to derive valuable insights, SMBs can prioritize critical tasks and optimize their e-commerce operations for sustained success. 2.6 Outsourcing: Delegate to Focus SMBs can significantly benefit from outsourcing specific e-commerce functions such as web design and development, marketing, customer service, and fulfillment. This strategy reduces costs, increases efficiency, and enables businesses to concentrate on their core competencies. However, choosing reliable outsourcing providers and maintaining clear communication are essential for effective collaboration. Third-party logistics and fulfillment platforms represent efficient and cost-optimized last-mile delivery and order fulfillment solutions that employ state-of-the-art technology and experienced delivery partners. Outsourcing order fulfillment to these platforms enables SMBs to concentrate on other critical aspects of their business and expand rapidly. Furthermore, leveraging fulfillment centers can lead to several advantages, such as time savings and increased focus on core areas of the business. Picking, packing, and shipping can prove challenging in e-commerce, but outsourcing to a fulfillment center can assist SMBs in scaling up their operations effectively. 2.7 Building Trust and Credibility Establishing trust and credibility is paramount for e-commerce businesses that aim to grow and expand. To achieve this, SMBs should develop a professional, user-friendly website, maintain active social media accounts, and participate in online communities and forums. Providing high-quality products and services and exceptional customer service is also essential. Soliciting and responding to customer feedback and reviews can foster trust and credibility with potential customers. Encouraging satisfied customers to leave positive reviews can neutralize negative feedback and attract new customers. • Having a presence on multiple platforms and upgrading the website can further enhance credibility. • Including a secure payment system, clear product descriptions, and detailed customer service information in the website design can also help to establish trust and credibility. • Moreover, utilizing customer reviews and ratings to showcase products is a powerful tool for building trust and credibility with potential customers. 2.8 Implement Effective E-commerce Marketing Strategies SMBs need to develop effective e-commerce marketing strategies that target their desired audience. This requires identifying the specific market segment they wish to reach and creating targeted campaigns that resonate with that audience. Inbound marketing is an effective marketing strategy for e-commerce businesses to attract customers to their online stores. By creating and distributing content relevant to their target audience, such as social posts, blog posts, videos, infographics, and influencer campaigns, SMBs can attract potential customers to their website and generate interest in their products. E-commerce SMBs must be aware of the importance of social media in their marketing efforts as they scale their online store. Maintaining and growing their presence on social media platforms is a valuable tool for reaching and engaging with potential customers. SMBs can increase brand awareness and drive traffic to their online store by actively increasing their social media marketing efforts 2.9 Attend Trade Shows and Industry Conferences Participating in trade shows and conferences is an effective way for SMBs to expand their network, keep abreast of the latest e-commerce trends, and explore new technologies. These events provide an ideal platform for networking, education, and business development. To leverage the benefits of these events, SMBs must conduct research to identify relevant trade shows and conferences in their industry and attend them regularly. By doing so, they can establish connections with potential customers, partners, and vendors and gain valuable insights into their competitors and the industry as a whole. This approach will enable them to optimize their time and resources and achieve a favorable return on investment. 3. Takeaway: Strategies for E-commerce Success In order to expand their e-commerce business, SMBs must take a strategic and deliberate approach encompassing various aspects of the business. This includes expanding their product lines, enhancing the customer experience, utilizing data and analytics, implementing effective marketing strategies, and streamlining operations such as picking, packing, and shipping. It is also crucial for SMBs to select an e-commerce platform that is flexible and adaptable to their evolving business needs. However, it is important to note that scaling a business has inherent risks and challenges. Therefore, SMBs must be well-prepared and have a plan to mitigate these challenges. By adopting the right tools and techniques, SMBs can overcome these obstacles and succeed in the highly competitive e-commerce market. To achieve sustainable growth, SMBs must take a thoughtful approach to planning and execution. This involves identifying growth opportunities, setting realistic goals, allocating resources effectively, and continually evaluating and adjusting their strategies to remain competitive. By doing so, SMBs can thrive in the e-commerce landscape and unlock their full potential.

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Article | February 11, 2020

Accountants working with small businesses often play the role of business advisors, especially when it comes to educating their clients about tax regulations and reducing their tax bill by taking all legitimate factors into account. We’ve gathered four tips that accounting professionals can use as a check-list to give to their small and mid-size business owner clients looking to make better financial decisions this year.

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Spotlight

Retail Direct

Retail Direct specialises in the resell and promotion of products from some of the biggest brand names across Europe. Covering multiple verticals, including technology, fashion, sport, home & garden, and health & beauty, the company is passionate about bringing the latest products to consumers at affordable prices.

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Interise and the Urban League Bring NextStage Minority Business Entrepreneur Academy & NextStage Accelerator to Massachusetts Gateway Cities

PRnewswire | May 31, 2023

Interise, a national non-profit headquartered in Boston, has partnered with The Urban League of Springfield and Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts to offer NextStage Minority Business Entrepreneur Academy and NextStage Accelerator powered by Interise."We are excited to bring these programs to our small business community as they are the heart of each town and city in the region", said Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts Interim CEO & President Dr. Keith Motley. "NextStage Minority Business Entrepreneur Academy and NextStage Accelerator will provide a welcomed boost to Springfield area minority-owned small business, and we are grateful for this partnership with Interise and Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts," added Urban League of Springfield Consultant/CEO & President Yvette M. Frisby. The programs will use Interise's StreetWise MBA curriculum with an emphasis on procurement readiness and provide minority-owned small businesses with the knowledge, know-how and networks needed for business growth and expansion."These programs are yet another way to provide much-needed assistance to minority-owned small business owners located in key cities throughout the state of Massachusetts," said Interise CEO Darrell Byers. "We are honored to partner with Urban League of Springfield and Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts on this important initiative." Nationwide approximately 10 to 18% of small businesses are BIPOC-owned, while less than 1.5% of BIPOC-owned small businesses are successful in securing contracts. Securing long-term contracts provides predictable revenue, a critical success factor for any small business.Historically, Interise companies become-contract ready through StreetWise'MBA' program. Companies that have completed these programs have achieved greater success procuring contracts with an average increase in revenue of 36% and a job creation rate 4x that of the private sector. Byers added, "We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to develop a more inclusive economy in Massachusetts by helping BIPOC-owned small businesses secure government and corporate contracts. The Federal Infrastructure Bill alone comprises a total spending of more than $3 trillion over the next five to ten years." The program will be offered throughout the Commonwealth with a focus on Gateway Cities and is funded through a $3 million earmark from the Federal American Rescue Plan Act in a spending bill signed by former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.The first cohorts began in April in Holyoke, Worcester County and Merrimack Valley and subsequent cohorts will launch in Pittsfield, Fall River, New Bedford, Lynn, and Springfield in the next few weeks. The programs will also launch in Boston and Brockton later this year. NextStage Accelerator will be offered in both English and Spanish while NextStage Minority Business Entrepreneur Academy will be in English only. About Interise Interise builds diverse and inclusive local economies through small business development, supporting the growth of minority-owned small businesses and small businesses located in low- and moderate-income communities. Interise contributes to inclusive economic development through its national research on the growth of established small businesses and its award-winning business development programs. As Interise companies grow, they contribute to local job creation and build community wealth. Interise companies historically create new jobs at five times the rate of the private sector and are responsible for the creation of over 30,000 new jobs. Interise partners with government agencies, anchor institutions, and business associations to offer the StreetWise 'MBA'™ program in more than 80 cities nationwide. Strategic Growth Partners include the Kauffman Foundation, the TD Bank Foundation, the Wells Fargo Foundation and the Prudential Foundation. About The Urban League of Springfield, Inc. The Urban League of Springfield, Inc., serves the African American Community in Greater Springfield by advocating for and providing model services that enhance the academic and social development of young people and families, promoting economic self-sufficiency, and fostering racial inclusion and social justice. About The Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts The Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts (ULEM) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and one of the oldest affiliates within the National Urban League movement. Since 1919, the doors opened to the at-large Boston community and surrounding metropolitan area residents, ULEM has been employing a multi-point strategy to deliver services and programs which aim to increase self-reliance, specifically in the area of workforce and economic development.

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Personetics Recognised as Top Solution for Banks Serving Small Businesses

Businesswire | May 24, 2023

Personetics, the global leader in financial data-driven personalisation and customer engagement, is the best solution for banks to gain a competitive advantage when serving the small business (SMB) market, according to a new report from Celent, “Become a Challenger in Small Business Banking: Embedding Fintech”. Celent, a leading research and advisory firm for the financial services industry, undertook this assessment because of the growing signs that financial institutions’ competitive position in SMB banking is eroding, mostly due to deposit run-offs to fintechs and shrinking shares of small business credit. SMBs are increasingly turning to non-traditional financial institutions and banks’ competitive position is eroding, as exemplified by deposit run-off to fintechs and shrinking share of small business credit. “Banks have the power to move from being challenged to being challengers, despite competition in this space being fierce. However, most banks are missing out on the opportunity to deliver advanced solutions to SMBs that would enable them to generate new revenue streams and better serve their customers,” said David Sosna, CEO at Personetics. “SMBs are demanding much more from their banking provider – they want banks to be providers of proactive insights, more relevant guidance, and provide automation that removes friction from their finance-related tasks. Time and time again, our platform has been shown to deliver for banks exactly what they need to grow their customer base.” Celent compared Personetics’ solutions and engagement capabilities alongside seven competitors in the space. The report says that deploying platforms such as Personetics are key to enabling banks to deliver a value proposition, making them more competitive in serving SMBs. “Personetics has developed the most extensive customer engagement platform,” stated Alenka Grealish, Celent analyst and author of the report. “It uses real-time data in addition to batch data from different sources, and leverages AI models to create more customised and contextually relevant personalised interactions for both the SMBs customer and the banker and digital marketing teams.” Sosna added: “Celent’s evaluation confirms our commitment to using the power of AI and predictive analytics to empower financial institutions to become leaders in SMB banking by enabling banks to provide real-time, predictive, and actionable insights and advice, personalised for each customer.” In order to boost engagement with SMBs and create long-term relationships, it’s vital for banks to deploy new ways of adding value and support financial wellness. Personetics’ thought leadership in the world of hyper-personalised, data-driven insights enables banks to identify trends and provide SMBs with suggested actions for them to make better cash flow management decisions and ensure they are getting the best from their banking relationships. About Personetics Personetics is the global leader in financial data-driven customer engagement. Personetics assists financial institutions to hyper-personalise every interaction and increase business impact. The company’s art and science capabilities are using financial transaction data to drive trust, build engagement, improve financial health, and deepen customer relationships.Personetics serves over 130 financial institutions in 34 global markets and reaches 140 million customers. The company is backed by leading venture capital and private equity investors, with offices in New York, London, Tel Aviv, Singapore, Tokyo, Paris, Spain, and Australia.

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FINANCE

Yelp Introduces New Ways to Discover and Connect with Local Businesses, and Contribute Helpful Content

Businesswire | April 26, 2023

Yelp Inc. the company that connects people with great local businesses, today announced a series of new features that make it even easier for consumers to discover businesses that fit their needs and contribute helpful content on Yelp. The company is introducing Yelp Guaranteed, a new satisfaction guarantee program that gives people peace of mind when hiring eligible home service businesses; an enhanced search experience powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to surface helpful insights on local businesses; new features that encourage richer and more detailed reviews; as well as an improved user experience across the platform that allows consumers to seamlessly find the right business for their needs. At Yelp, we’re always innovating on ways for consumers and businesses to connect in more seamless and meaningful ways,” said Craig Saldanha, chief product officer at Yelp. “Millions of people rely on Yelp to make important spending decisions with local businesses, and their trust is at the center of everything we do. With the new updates we're announcing today, we want to help consumers more easily discover businesses that meet their needs in a way that is both precise and personal, as well as give our users more engaging ways to share their experiences with the community.” Yelp Guaranteed Provides Peace of Mind When Hiring Home Service Professionals Over the last several years since the introduction of Request a Quote, Yelp focused on differentiating the product experience in services categories for both sides of the marketplace — to help consumers easily hire service pros, and better match services businesses with relevant customer leads. As part of this evolution, Yelp is rolling out Yelp Guaranteed, a new satisfaction guarantee program that allows Request a Quote users to receive up to $2,500 back in the event something goes wrong with a project from an eligible business. Building on the growth of Request a Quote and Request a Call, as well as the recently launched ‘Projects’ tab, Yelp Guaranteed provides consumers with added confidence and peace of mind when hiring home service professionals. At launch, Yelp Guaranteed will be available on iOS to consumers in San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, Seattle and Washington D.C., among some of Yelp’s most popular home services — such as movers, plumbers, contractors, home cleaners, landscapers and more. This summer, the company plans to expand the availability of Yelp Guaranteed nationwide, and roll it out on Android and desktop. Enhancing the Search Experience on Yelp Leveraging LLMs and AI Yelp has rolled out new search features across all platforms that use AI and large language models (LLMs) to surface smarter suggestions and insights based on the user’s search intent. • Review highlights in search results: Leveraging LLMs for specific keyword searches, Yelp will now better understand the nuance of what consumers are looking for, and highlight relevant snippets from reviews under each business listing in search results. • AI-powered search suggestions: To streamline the discovery experience for consumers who already have a specific business in mind, Yelp is now using AI to suggest businesses consumers may be interested in across the U.S. — not bound by the user's current location. “People often come to Yelp with high intent — LLMs provide Yelp with the speed and scale to quickly parse vast amounts of review data, so we can succinctly summarize insights in a meaningful way. We envision this technology will further help both consumers with complex and nuanced needs, as well as those with broad, open-ended searches by leveraging the more than 265 million high-quality consumer reviews on Yelp’s platform,” said Saldanha. To support users without a specific search in mind, Yelp is also introducing new search features that will help them narrow down their search and discover new restaurants to try. • Surprise Me: For consumers who have a tough time deciding where to eat, Yelp’s new Surprise Me feature generates restaurant recommendations, which users can find from the Yelp home feed and search results page. Surprise Me is currently featured on iOS, and will be available on Android in the coming months. • Clickable Category Tags: Users can find this feature on business listings for restaurants, food and nightlife searches, helping undecided consumers better refine their general searches (such as for “restaurants” or “dinner”) with category-specific searches. New clickable category tags can be found on iOS, with Android coming soon. Revamping the Review Experience with New Ways to Contribute In 2022, Yelp saw an increase in review contributions by reducing review writing friction, with approximately 21 million new reviews contributed throughout the year. To better inform consumers’ spending decisions and expand upon the platform’s trusted content on local businesses, Yelp is releasing more visual and interactive ways for consumers to contribute. • Videos in reviews: To share their experiences in more visual and engaging ways, reviewers will be able to upload high resolution, short-form videos on iOS alongside their text review and photos. For example, a tableside preparation or the unique vibe of the restaurant. Yelp plans to roll out video in reviews to Android soon. • Review topics: Users will find new interactive topics — “food,” “service” and “ambiance” — at the top of their review drafts that turn green with a checkmark when each topic is addressed in their review. These topics not only help alleviate writer's block, but also help contributors write more helpful reviews. Review topics are live on iOS and Android, and the company plans to roll it out on desktop this summer. • New expressive review reactions: To enhance the way people engage with and show appreciation for one another’s reviews, Yelp is introducing new review reactions: “Helpful,” “Thanks,” “Love this” and “Oh no.” New reactions are live on iOS and desktop, and coming to Android devices this summer. Creating a More Visual and Seamless Yelp Experience Yelp has rolled out new features that better surface the company’s rich, visual content and make it easier to access reliable and useful information on local businesses. This includes the ability for business owners using Yelp Connect to upload videos to their posts, a refreshed home feed with more helpful information about local businesses, a new navigation and photo experience on business pages, passwordless login and more. All of these new user experience features are now available on iOS, with many available on Android and desktop. About Yelp Inc. Yelp Inc. is a community-driven platform that connects people with great local businesses. Millions of people rely on Yelp for useful and trusted local business information, reviews and photos to help inform their spending decisions. As a one-stop local platform, Yelp helps consumers easily discover, connect and transact with businesses across a broad range of categories by making it easy to request a quote for a service, book a table at a restaurant, and more. Yelp was founded in San Francisco in 2004.

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MARKETING AND NETWORKING

Interise and the Urban League Bring NextStage Minority Business Entrepreneur Academy & NextStage Accelerator to Massachusetts Gateway Cities

PRnewswire | May 31, 2023

Interise, a national non-profit headquartered in Boston, has partnered with The Urban League of Springfield and Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts to offer NextStage Minority Business Entrepreneur Academy and NextStage Accelerator powered by Interise."We are excited to bring these programs to our small business community as they are the heart of each town and city in the region", said Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts Interim CEO & President Dr. Keith Motley. "NextStage Minority Business Entrepreneur Academy and NextStage Accelerator will provide a welcomed boost to Springfield area minority-owned small business, and we are grateful for this partnership with Interise and Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts," added Urban League of Springfield Consultant/CEO & President Yvette M. Frisby. The programs will use Interise's StreetWise MBA curriculum with an emphasis on procurement readiness and provide minority-owned small businesses with the knowledge, know-how and networks needed for business growth and expansion."These programs are yet another way to provide much-needed assistance to minority-owned small business owners located in key cities throughout the state of Massachusetts," said Interise CEO Darrell Byers. "We are honored to partner with Urban League of Springfield and Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts on this important initiative." Nationwide approximately 10 to 18% of small businesses are BIPOC-owned, while less than 1.5% of BIPOC-owned small businesses are successful in securing contracts. Securing long-term contracts provides predictable revenue, a critical success factor for any small business.Historically, Interise companies become-contract ready through StreetWise'MBA' program. Companies that have completed these programs have achieved greater success procuring contracts with an average increase in revenue of 36% and a job creation rate 4x that of the private sector. Byers added, "We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to develop a more inclusive economy in Massachusetts by helping BIPOC-owned small businesses secure government and corporate contracts. The Federal Infrastructure Bill alone comprises a total spending of more than $3 trillion over the next five to ten years." The program will be offered throughout the Commonwealth with a focus on Gateway Cities and is funded through a $3 million earmark from the Federal American Rescue Plan Act in a spending bill signed by former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.The first cohorts began in April in Holyoke, Worcester County and Merrimack Valley and subsequent cohorts will launch in Pittsfield, Fall River, New Bedford, Lynn, and Springfield in the next few weeks. The programs will also launch in Boston and Brockton later this year. NextStage Accelerator will be offered in both English and Spanish while NextStage Minority Business Entrepreneur Academy will be in English only. About Interise Interise builds diverse and inclusive local economies through small business development, supporting the growth of minority-owned small businesses and small businesses located in low- and moderate-income communities. Interise contributes to inclusive economic development through its national research on the growth of established small businesses and its award-winning business development programs. As Interise companies grow, they contribute to local job creation and build community wealth. Interise companies historically create new jobs at five times the rate of the private sector and are responsible for the creation of over 30,000 new jobs. Interise partners with government agencies, anchor institutions, and business associations to offer the StreetWise 'MBA'™ program in more than 80 cities nationwide. Strategic Growth Partners include the Kauffman Foundation, the TD Bank Foundation, the Wells Fargo Foundation and the Prudential Foundation. About The Urban League of Springfield, Inc. The Urban League of Springfield, Inc., serves the African American Community in Greater Springfield by advocating for and providing model services that enhance the academic and social development of young people and families, promoting economic self-sufficiency, and fostering racial inclusion and social justice. About The Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts The Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts (ULEM) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and one of the oldest affiliates within the National Urban League movement. Since 1919, the doors opened to the at-large Boston community and surrounding metropolitan area residents, ULEM has been employing a multi-point strategy to deliver services and programs which aim to increase self-reliance, specifically in the area of workforce and economic development.

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FINANCE

Personetics Recognised as Top Solution for Banks Serving Small Businesses

Businesswire | May 24, 2023

Personetics, the global leader in financial data-driven personalisation and customer engagement, is the best solution for banks to gain a competitive advantage when serving the small business (SMB) market, according to a new report from Celent, “Become a Challenger in Small Business Banking: Embedding Fintech”. Celent, a leading research and advisory firm for the financial services industry, undertook this assessment because of the growing signs that financial institutions’ competitive position in SMB banking is eroding, mostly due to deposit run-offs to fintechs and shrinking shares of small business credit. SMBs are increasingly turning to non-traditional financial institutions and banks’ competitive position is eroding, as exemplified by deposit run-off to fintechs and shrinking share of small business credit. “Banks have the power to move from being challenged to being challengers, despite competition in this space being fierce. However, most banks are missing out on the opportunity to deliver advanced solutions to SMBs that would enable them to generate new revenue streams and better serve their customers,” said David Sosna, CEO at Personetics. “SMBs are demanding much more from their banking provider – they want banks to be providers of proactive insights, more relevant guidance, and provide automation that removes friction from their finance-related tasks. Time and time again, our platform has been shown to deliver for banks exactly what they need to grow their customer base.” Celent compared Personetics’ solutions and engagement capabilities alongside seven competitors in the space. The report says that deploying platforms such as Personetics are key to enabling banks to deliver a value proposition, making them more competitive in serving SMBs. “Personetics has developed the most extensive customer engagement platform,” stated Alenka Grealish, Celent analyst and author of the report. “It uses real-time data in addition to batch data from different sources, and leverages AI models to create more customised and contextually relevant personalised interactions for both the SMBs customer and the banker and digital marketing teams.” Sosna added: “Celent’s evaluation confirms our commitment to using the power of AI and predictive analytics to empower financial institutions to become leaders in SMB banking by enabling banks to provide real-time, predictive, and actionable insights and advice, personalised for each customer.” In order to boost engagement with SMBs and create long-term relationships, it’s vital for banks to deploy new ways of adding value and support financial wellness. Personetics’ thought leadership in the world of hyper-personalised, data-driven insights enables banks to identify trends and provide SMBs with suggested actions for them to make better cash flow management decisions and ensure they are getting the best from their banking relationships. About Personetics Personetics is the global leader in financial data-driven customer engagement. Personetics assists financial institutions to hyper-personalise every interaction and increase business impact. The company’s art and science capabilities are using financial transaction data to drive trust, build engagement, improve financial health, and deepen customer relationships.Personetics serves over 130 financial institutions in 34 global markets and reaches 140 million customers. The company is backed by leading venture capital and private equity investors, with offices in New York, London, Tel Aviv, Singapore, Tokyo, Paris, Spain, and Australia.

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FINANCE

Yelp Introduces New Ways to Discover and Connect with Local Businesses, and Contribute Helpful Content

Businesswire | April 26, 2023

Yelp Inc. the company that connects people with great local businesses, today announced a series of new features that make it even easier for consumers to discover businesses that fit their needs and contribute helpful content on Yelp. The company is introducing Yelp Guaranteed, a new satisfaction guarantee program that gives people peace of mind when hiring eligible home service businesses; an enhanced search experience powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to surface helpful insights on local businesses; new features that encourage richer and more detailed reviews; as well as an improved user experience across the platform that allows consumers to seamlessly find the right business for their needs. At Yelp, we’re always innovating on ways for consumers and businesses to connect in more seamless and meaningful ways,” said Craig Saldanha, chief product officer at Yelp. “Millions of people rely on Yelp to make important spending decisions with local businesses, and their trust is at the center of everything we do. With the new updates we're announcing today, we want to help consumers more easily discover businesses that meet their needs in a way that is both precise and personal, as well as give our users more engaging ways to share their experiences with the community.” Yelp Guaranteed Provides Peace of Mind When Hiring Home Service Professionals Over the last several years since the introduction of Request a Quote, Yelp focused on differentiating the product experience in services categories for both sides of the marketplace — to help consumers easily hire service pros, and better match services businesses with relevant customer leads. As part of this evolution, Yelp is rolling out Yelp Guaranteed, a new satisfaction guarantee program that allows Request a Quote users to receive up to $2,500 back in the event something goes wrong with a project from an eligible business. Building on the growth of Request a Quote and Request a Call, as well as the recently launched ‘Projects’ tab, Yelp Guaranteed provides consumers with added confidence and peace of mind when hiring home service professionals. At launch, Yelp Guaranteed will be available on iOS to consumers in San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, Seattle and Washington D.C., among some of Yelp’s most popular home services — such as movers, plumbers, contractors, home cleaners, landscapers and more. This summer, the company plans to expand the availability of Yelp Guaranteed nationwide, and roll it out on Android and desktop. Enhancing the Search Experience on Yelp Leveraging LLMs and AI Yelp has rolled out new search features across all platforms that use AI and large language models (LLMs) to surface smarter suggestions and insights based on the user’s search intent. • Review highlights in search results: Leveraging LLMs for specific keyword searches, Yelp will now better understand the nuance of what consumers are looking for, and highlight relevant snippets from reviews under each business listing in search results. • AI-powered search suggestions: To streamline the discovery experience for consumers who already have a specific business in mind, Yelp is now using AI to suggest businesses consumers may be interested in across the U.S. — not bound by the user's current location. “People often come to Yelp with high intent — LLMs provide Yelp with the speed and scale to quickly parse vast amounts of review data, so we can succinctly summarize insights in a meaningful way. We envision this technology will further help both consumers with complex and nuanced needs, as well as those with broad, open-ended searches by leveraging the more than 265 million high-quality consumer reviews on Yelp’s platform,” said Saldanha. To support users without a specific search in mind, Yelp is also introducing new search features that will help them narrow down their search and discover new restaurants to try. • Surprise Me: For consumers who have a tough time deciding where to eat, Yelp’s new Surprise Me feature generates restaurant recommendations, which users can find from the Yelp home feed and search results page. Surprise Me is currently featured on iOS, and will be available on Android in the coming months. • Clickable Category Tags: Users can find this feature on business listings for restaurants, food and nightlife searches, helping undecided consumers better refine their general searches (such as for “restaurants” or “dinner”) with category-specific searches. New clickable category tags can be found on iOS, with Android coming soon. Revamping the Review Experience with New Ways to Contribute In 2022, Yelp saw an increase in review contributions by reducing review writing friction, with approximately 21 million new reviews contributed throughout the year. To better inform consumers’ spending decisions and expand upon the platform’s trusted content on local businesses, Yelp is releasing more visual and interactive ways for consumers to contribute. • Videos in reviews: To share their experiences in more visual and engaging ways, reviewers will be able to upload high resolution, short-form videos on iOS alongside their text review and photos. For example, a tableside preparation or the unique vibe of the restaurant. Yelp plans to roll out video in reviews to Android soon. • Review topics: Users will find new interactive topics — “food,” “service” and “ambiance” — at the top of their review drafts that turn green with a checkmark when each topic is addressed in their review. These topics not only help alleviate writer's block, but also help contributors write more helpful reviews. Review topics are live on iOS and Android, and the company plans to roll it out on desktop this summer. • New expressive review reactions: To enhance the way people engage with and show appreciation for one another’s reviews, Yelp is introducing new review reactions: “Helpful,” “Thanks,” “Love this” and “Oh no.” New reactions are live on iOS and desktop, and coming to Android devices this summer. Creating a More Visual and Seamless Yelp Experience Yelp has rolled out new features that better surface the company’s rich, visual content and make it easier to access reliable and useful information on local businesses. This includes the ability for business owners using Yelp Connect to upload videos to their posts, a refreshed home feed with more helpful information about local businesses, a new navigation and photo experience on business pages, passwordless login and more. All of these new user experience features are now available on iOS, with many available on Android and desktop. About Yelp Inc. Yelp Inc. is a community-driven platform that connects people with great local businesses. Millions of people rely on Yelp for useful and trusted local business information, reviews and photos to help inform their spending decisions. As a one-stop local platform, Yelp helps consumers easily discover, connect and transact with businesses across a broad range of categories by making it easy to request a quote for a service, book a table at a restaurant, and more. Yelp was founded in San Francisco in 2004.

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Events